How to apply for Aadhaar for a child below 5 years, without the confusion

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• Aadhaar for kids under 5 uses parent details, no biometrics needed initially
• Birth certificate is mandatory for kids born after Oct 1, 2023
• Biometric updates are required at ages 5 and 15, both free within the window

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If your child is below 5, the Aadhaar process is intentionally simpler than an adult’s. You’re essentially creating an Aadhaar number for the child using their basic demographic details and linking it to a parent/guardian. The fingerprints and iris scan are not the “main event” at this stage; the big biometric update happens when the child turns 5, and again at 15.

Step 1: Keep the parent’s Aadhaar ready

For a child under 5, at least one parent’s or guardian’s Aadhaar is needed. UIDAI’s own FAQ puts this very plainly: the Aadhaar of one of the parents is required, and the child’s Aadhaar is generated based on that.

Step 2: Collect the child’s documents (this is where people slip)

UIDAI asks for two things in practice: proof of identity for the child and proof of relationship. For most families, a birth certificate takes care of a lot of this, and UIDAI also notes that a birth certificate is mandatory for children born on or after October 1, 2023.

If you don’t have a birth certificate or it doesn’t cover everything you need, use any valid document from UIDAI’s accepted document list for “Proof of Relationship” or child identity, as applicable.

Step 3: Decide where you’ll enrol

You can enrol at an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra. The simple way is to look up a nearby centre and timings first, so you’re not stuck in a long queue with a cranky toddler. UIDAI points people to the Bhuvan portal for centre addresses.

Step 4: Visit the centre and do the enrolment

At the centre, the operator will fill in the child’s details, capture the child’s photograph, and link the application to the parent/guardian Aadhaar you provide. UIDAI also clarifies two practical points that many parents worry about: a mobile number is not mandatory for enrolment, and the enrolment itself is free.

Step 5: Don’t forget the “age 5” biometric update

This is the part that gets missed because it’s years later. UIDAI says that when the child turns 5, all biometrics (photo, fingerprints, and iris) are recorded, and

it’s treated like a fresh capture while keeping the same Aadhaar number. This mandatory biometric update is free if done in the specified age window.

And then it happens again at 15, again free (within the specified window).